Agartala, November 10
The Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT), a tribal party, today claimed that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had assured them that the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, would be amended so that tribals were not harassed by paramilitary forces.
INPT general secretary Rabindra Debbarma told reporters that the assurance came when they met the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister in Delhi last month.
Pointing out that the act provided unlimited powers to the paramilitary forces, he alleged that about 1,500 tribal youths were arrested by paramilitary forces over the years on “false” charges. The act is in force in 40 police station areas since 1997.
Debbarma also said the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council, formed in 1985 to safeguard tribals culturally and economically, had failed to accomplish its mission due to non-availability of funds and adequate powers.
“We have demanded more autonomy on the lines of the Bodo Territorial Council so that funds were directly received by the tribal council. More legislative power should be given to safeguard the interests of tribals, who constitute one third of the population in the state,” Debbarma said.
The INPT leader said the Centre had assured to send a team to review the functioning of the council.
— PTI
